Page 126 of Prickly Romance

A warm hand slips into mine, grabbing my fingers.

My heart trips over itself.

I stare ahead, frozen.

“I’m not going to lie just to please you. And I’m not going to apologize for something I feel no remorse about.”

My eyebrows hike.

Is she trying to raise my blood pressure?

“Any reason I give for fighting with the reporter won’t solve the effects that it’s having on everyone. But I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want to let the kids down. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone, not to the admin team, not to the instructors or the parents. I want to work with you until The Sazuki Foundation touches the world—”

Akira knocks on the door again. “Sazuki, we need to leave now.”

She removes her hand.

I barely restrain the urge to take it back again. “I know you have a good reason for fighting with her. Whatever she did, it must have warranted your response.”

Dejonae gasps loudly.

I walk to the door because I really cannot miss this next appointment.

My fingers twist the lock.

I start to turn the knob.

“Sazuki.”

I stop. She has my heart by the throat. I could not move even if a hurricane tried to sweep me away.

“If you knew,” her voice is hesitant, “why were you so cold to me yesterday?”

“Because I was afraid.” I grip the door harder.

Akira knocks again. Her voice sounds heavy and urgent. “Sazuki, you’re really going to be late.”

“Afraid of what?” Dejonae whispers.

“Afraid I would be too soft on you.”

I feel her shock, but I do not turn around to witness it. Quickly opening the door, I stride to Akira. “Let’s go.”

She takes one look at my face and nods.

* * *

Hours later,I shake hands with the editor-in-chief. She smiles when I confirm the exclusive interview, her eyes lighting up with dollar signs.

I return to the car.

At first, Akira says nothing.

Eventually, she glances at me in the rear-view mirror. “Will you really try to resolve it with money?”

“There is little that it cannot solve,” I sigh wearily. My eyes are beginning to throb.

I close them. Unfortunately, the sun is too bright and it still bothers me.

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